Sigma Kappa - Purdue University

2 DestineD to be a beta sigma Beta Sigma roots run especially deep for Betsy Liley '83. Her aunt was one of eight founders of Sigma Kappa at Purdue. Her mother and godmother pledged a couple of years later. "My mom volunteered with the Corporation Board for more than 40 years," Betsy recalls. "I spent hours of my youth at the house with the housemother, collegians, and alumnae. The house has been a big part of my life since I was born." making FrienDs For LiFe Betsy's relationship with the chapter continued to evolve after she pledged. "I made lifetime friendships, some of which surprised me. I was assigned to share a room with a sister I didn't know well. Forty years later, Julie Yankoff Gillum '84 and I talk weekly and travel—mostly for concerts—together." Betsy is happy to give credit where credit is due: "We appreciate the wisdom of the late Madelon Moulton Shahroozi '83, then house manager, who engineered that match." The value of lifelong sisterhood was modeled for Betsy by her family. "My mom, aunt, and godmother stayed in touch with their sisters all the while until their deaths. They were always close and were in each other's weddings. My godmother, Mary Jane Gard Koch '49, was one of my mom's best friends from her time living in the house." UniteD generations Elaine Kull Liley '50 passed away in 2014, but Betsy keeps her mother's legacy alive by remaining involved in chapter activities. She recently attended a Beta Sigma reunion along with 10% of living alumni (about 180 women). "It was a delight," she says. "It gave me great pride that across more than 55 years of pledge classes, we had recruited a group of women who were lovely, interesting, silly, smart, fun-loving, and diverse people. We had so much fun together, meeting others across the years and learning about the house and campus today." staying active as an aLUmnae In 2018, Betsy and her aunt, Mary Louise Kull Hopkins '48, representing the founding members, attended the 70th anniversary celebration. "More than 200 people gathered in the Purdue ballroom," Betsy recalls. "The group of collegians we met during the reunion were remarkable and impressive. We all were so proud of them." Soon after, Betsy was asked to reprise her role as a volunteer and help the Corporation Board president with some alumni engagement. "That led to several events over the past three years, including Galantines, Founders' Day, pledge sister reunions, and the 75th reunion." During the pandemic, Betsy hosted bi-weekly Zoom "happy hour calls" with sisters. "It was an experiment. I wasn't sure who would join the call. Some sisters with whom I'd had limited-to-no contact since college became regulars," she shares. "Over the course of two years of happy hours, dozens of sisters signed on. We learned about each other's lives—our spouses, children, parents, pets, jobs, volunteer work, and more. We remembered things from the house. It was just like being in the house, except that many of us had a cocktail or glass of wine in hand." LiFe oUtsiDe oF sigma kappa Betsy works as a fundraising consultant for nonprofits. She has raised billions of dollars and led marketing communications and public policy initiatives for some of the largest, most successful global nonprofits. She's worked across the education, health, media, and animal welfare sectors in 55 countries. She's also been an award-winning journalist, public policy consultant, and professor as well as a nationally recognized innovator. Betsy lives with her spouse and six cats in Swanton, Vermont. "We are enjoying gardening, traveling, music, theatre and the arts, politics, and being foodies." If you'd like to connect, you can send her an email at betsyliley@outlook.com. The Family Tree Still Thrives Betsy Liley '83 Reflects on Her Generational Connection to Beta Sigma "It was great to reconnect and remember sisters we have lost and what support we have in each other." "Always know, my friends and time at Sigma Kappa are the best things that came out of my time at Purdue! Forever grateful!" "What an amazing thing to see the power of friendship—that lasts over decades, life changes, hardships, and successes—and still stays true." Thank you to the following alumni who volunteered and planned the 75th anniversary reunion weekend! Special thank you to Valerie Boltz Morris '81, who designed the 75th logo! Linda Craig '80, Alumni Engagement Committee Chair Carrie Currie '91 Lori Kerestes Godby '81 Betsy Liley '83 Dee-Dee Mathys '89 Linda Neff '80 Nicole Wood Pendley '91 Cinda Zimmack Terry '76 Katrinka Brown Toebes '83 Kate Trussel '92

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